How to Create Killer Guest Posts that Captivate Your Audience

I visited Huffington Post profile the other day:

Ryan Biddulph Huffington Post Articles

I noted 2 things:

• For some reason The Huff Post added the numbers “187” to my user name (followers of old school Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre know what this means….and yes it inspired the blog post title)
• Each of my guest posts generated a hefty amount of traffic, social shares and a few  comments too.

Today I want to help you write, publish and share popular guest posts to promote your blogging success.

1: Give the Audience What They Want (Solve Specific Problems)

Read the prior 3 posts on any blog where you intend to submit a guest post.

See what the audience wants.

Serve up what the audience wants.

Wow them by wooing them with helpful, targeted blog content.

Solve specific problems relevant to reader needs to publish popular guest posts.

My Blogging Tips guest posts may vary some from my Huffington Post or Shout Me Loud or Pro Blogger guest posts.

I write a different post for the different readerships to tailor my guesties.

From Ileane Smith at Basic Blog Tips to Sue Anne Dunlevie at Successful Blogging each blog has its own style. Tailor your guest posts to fit the style

2: Go with Questions or Double Figure Titles

Readers love value.

Serve value by writing double figure titled posts.

Over deliver.

Get serious pop through your guest posts.

Ask a question to intrigue readers.

Follow up with helpful content to drill home your point.

Double figure themed or question themed titles act like bread crumbs, attracting readers with an enticing teaser of what’s on the plate.

Follow up with a 6 foot long submarine sandwich in the form of a helpful, thorough, meaty post to boost your page views.

3: Ask Questions to Boost Engagement

End each guest post with one to three questions.

Boost engagement to increase traffic to the post.

Asking questions is like handing the mic over to your audience.

You had your say.

Now you give the audience some shine.

I sometimes use the H2 header text “Your Turn” before asking my customary 1 to 3 questions.

My turn has ended.

Now readers can step up to share their take through blog comments.

Engaged audiences tend to promote blog posts aggressively across multiple platforms.

That’s good for you, Mr. or Mrs. Guest Poster.

4:  Share as You’d Share on Your Blog

Share guest posts on:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Relevant Facebook Groups
• Relevant G Plus Communities
• G Plus
• Triberr
• Biz Sugar
• Inbound Dot Org
• Growth Hackers
• Just Retweet

….among other spots.

Promote guest post as you’d promote your own blog posts.

Generate serious traffic mojo by generating awesome guest posting karma.

Share freely to receive freely.

5: Do Your Best Work

Do your absolutely, positively best work each time you submit a guest post.

Show off your skills to shock and awe your new audience.

Don’t hold back.

Hey, if you flop, you flop.

If your guest post gets rejected simply join the club.

I’ve been tweet endorsed by a NY Times Best Selling Author.

I’ve been featured on a billionaire’s blog.

My guest posts get rejected sometimes.

I still do my best job every time out, never holding back because I fear that I’m wasting my time.

Spend 1, 2 or 7 hours – or longer – writing thorough, helpful, practical-tips-laden guest posts.

Do your best job to make a seismic impact.

6: No Pressure i.e. Have Fun!

You can’t create a killer guest post if you feel under pressure to publish the ultimate guest post.

Have fun!

You’re being given the keys to someone’s blog.

Take care of it but enjoy the ride!

7: Become a Regular

I focus heavily on publishing guest posts to Blogging Tips and the Huffington Post. Doing so helps me establish continuity and familiarity with these communities.

Guest post predominantly to 1, 2 or 3 blogs. Build familiarity with specific audiences. Captivate readers by avoiding the “one night stand” viewpoint that destroys many guest blogging campaigns.

Readers become rabid fans if you grow on them through 5 super guest posts or more.

Note; feel free to guest post on a bunch of blogs but don’t spread yourself thin.

Devote most of your energies to a few blogs.

Your Turn

What tips can you add to this list?

How do you create awesome guest posts?

Or are you having a tough time getting your guest posts accepted?

Source

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Written by:

Diyyan Mehboob

Diyyan Mehboob, Professional blogger in Pakistan. Started blog to complete my passion about blogging, Helping readers all around the world to solve problems about Wordpress, SEO and Online Earnings.